Starmer refuses to send warships: PM tells Trump UK is ‘not ready’ as US asks for aid to protect the Strait of Hormuz

Keir Starmer told Donald Trump on Sunday night that he was not ready to accept US demands to ‘send ships’ to protect oil tankers in the Gulf from Iranian attacks.

The two leaders spoke by phone after the US President asked for assistance with Iran’s efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Downing Street said the pair ‘discussed the importance of reopening the strait to end disruption to global shipping that is increasing costs around the world’.

But there are understood to be no current plans to send British warships to escort the stranded tankers, with Iran warning of retaliation against Britain on Sunday. Ministers are instead proposing mine-hunting drones and missile interceptors as part of an international effort to free up shipping on the route.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said he wanted Britain, France and China to ‘send ships to the region so that the Strait is no longer threatened by a completely decapitated nation’.

This request was repeated by US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and said: ‘Talks continue. The last time Iran tried to restrict global energy supplies, French and UK forces were escorting tankers heading to their markets. This is President Trump’s call to the world.’

Downing Street said ministers were ‘discussing a range of options with our allies and partners to ensure the security of shipping in the region’.

But on Sunday night it emerged that Britain’s only immediate contribution to unblocking the strait would be autonomous underwater vehicles based in Bahrain, which have not been tested in conflict situations.

Donald Trump said he wanted Britain, France and China to “send ships to the region so that the Bosphorus is no longer threatened by a completely decapitated nation.”

The Royal Navy has not a single minesweeper left to offer after HMS Middleton was withdrawn from the area for ‘routine maintenance’ last year.

Government sources stressed that no final decision has been made on how to respond to Mr. Trump’s request.

Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through the strait, and closing this strait would cause oil prices to increase by approximately 100 dollars per barrel, threatening world economies.

But ministers are resisting pressure to send a small number of warships to the region and instead want to prioritize naval support for a NATO mission in the High North seen as necessary to deter Russian aggression.

Ministers also fear it risks being dragged deeper into the unpopular conflict and that Iran could intensify its attacks in the Gulf.

It was reported on Sunday that the EU is considering expanding the Aspides mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi militias.

But German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said he was ‘very skeptical’ of the idea. Iran has also signaled it will step up retaliation against Britain if it plays any role in reopening the strait.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Times Radio that Iran is currently ‘not at war with the UK’.

But when asked about possible British intervention, he added: ‘That would be complicity in the crime of aggression, the crime against peace, and that would certainly be responded to.’ [to] by Iran.”

Senior shipping figures on Sunday night backed the Prime Minister’s stance but highlighted the UK’s ship shortage.

Admiral Lord West, former chief of the Royal Navy, said: ‘Our strategic priority remains the High North and we must remain fully committed to NATO manoeuvres… If we compromise on this exercise the beneficiary will be Vladimir Putin… What we really need in the Strait is a mine hunting capability.

‘It’s terrible that we don’t have a minesweeper in the area and that autonomous assets have not yet reached maturity.’

Meanwhile, the operation to rescue thousands of Britons stranded in Lebanon is one step closer.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay sailed from Gibraltar to Cyprus where she could lead Operation Non-Combatant Evacuation. The move came as Israeli tanks advanced deeper into Lebanon.